So if you’re in the US, then you probably celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, or are having some sort of celebration this weekend. My question to you is, what games do you and your friends/family play?

It’s taken me quite a bit of effort to introduce gaming on Thanksgiving to my family, but I’ve managed to slip a few party games in that have really gone over well.

Usually we play Scattergories, Cranium Turbo Edition, and a Werewolf variant that I call “The Last Thanksgiving”, featuring killer turkeys. This year I’ll also be bringing Blurt.

So what have you played, or what will you be playing during your celebrations this year?  Leave a comment below!

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Take Me to the Cleaner$ is a board game from Frank Janicek, intended to be played by one or more couples. The object of the game is to finish with the most assets while divorcing.

The result of playing the game is likely to end with one player finishing with the most assets while the couple is divorcing.

Regardless of the number of couples playing, the game is always played as you against your spouse.

The underlying theme of the game is about “acceptance” and “compromise” but on the surface, its about getting back at your spouse/partner in a fun, light-hearted way for driving you crazy for all the time you’ve been together. Tired of putting up with your spouse’s/partner’s irritating traits or habits? Do you wish you could get back at them in a fun, light-hearted way? Well, here’s your chance!

For example, on a turn, you might have to describe how good your relationship used to be while you were dating and how it is worse now. Or you may have to list three things about your spouse that really get on your nerves. Do this over and over for a whole game. What a barrel of laughs!

The coup de grace is that each player creates a list of three real-world activities that his or her spouse must comply with after the game if he or she wins.

They’re taking this to Dragon’s Den this season. Good luck with that.

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Cerebration, also the name of the sggc, is by Dr Scott Williams. It’s a trivia game with 300 cards, for which the good doctor spent $10,000 on the trademark and some unknown about marketing it with a billboard on US 431 outside of Hampton Cove.

The game costs $28, with 100 card expansions costing $10 each.

(source)

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Matt Carson (GamerDad) is back with his annual gift list. (source)

The San Francisco Chronicle pimps again, pimping struggling game designers (of whom we’ve heard before), as well as Susan McKinley-Ross, the designer of Qwirkle, who in turn pimps BGG (the forums, no less). (source)

The Guardian pimps again, with ten games on the list: Backgammon, Pictionary, Clue, The Settlers of Catan, Diplomacy, Alhambra, Mousetrap, Othello, Acquire, Scrabble. (source)

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And I use the term “tool” deliberately.

Dan Levy of Funstreet, creator of Ruckus, is doing a fine job getting the mainstream media to market his product for him.

Consider this: Dubuque, IA’s Telegraph Herald ran a story that their local game store, “Poopsie’s”, was among the top 5% of the nation’s 1500 stores selling Ruckus, outselling stores such as Toys R Us and Target. This information, and the entire meat of the article, comes directly from Dan. (source)

And guess what? Palm Beach, FL’s TCPalm ran a story saying that their local game store, “Vero Beach Books”, was among the top 5% of the nation’s 1500 stores selling Ruckus, outselling stores such as Toys R Us and Target. From Dan. (source)

How many more of these are there? One, two, three, who knows?

The thing is, Ruckus is only available at Toys R Us’ online store (and it’s out of stock) and it’s not available at Target at all. The Ruckus site doesn’t list either as locations to purchase their game, though it lists around 900 stores that do sell its product. (source)

Then we have letters to the editor:

The Franklin News Post published this lovely letter: “I often receive emails from Hardy consumers thanking me for making Ruckus, a family game I created that has been well-received. I tell them to thank The Cottage Gate, who has sold Ruckus so enthusiastically, they’ve blown away competition that includes large stores and chains throughout the U.S.” (source) How sweet.

Central Jersey: “I often receive e-mails from Princeton consumers thanking me for making Ruckus, a family game I created that has been well-received. I tell them to thank Jazams, who has sold Ruckus so enthusiastically, they’ve blown away competition that includes large stores and chains throughout the U.S.” (source)

This Week Live: “I often receive emails from Burnsville consumers thanking me for making Ruckus, a family game I created that has been well-received. I tell them to thank Air Traffic, who has sold Ruckus so enthusiastically, they’ve blown away competition that includes large stores and chains throughout the U.S.” (source)

Flattery – and ad copy disguised as a story for lazy journalists – will get you everywhere.

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Not exactly criminal, but getting there: In Iceland, a fight is gearing up over Bobby Fischer’s estate. (source)

New Delhi, India: An argument over 5 Rupee (around $0.10) in a card game leads to murder. (source)

Milwaukee, WI: Man is shot in the leg after he tries to sell marijuana to some people playing a dice game. (source)

Sumter, SC: Argument over Dominoes game in a prison leads to brutal assault, leaving the victim in a coma. (source)

Sydney, Australia: 55 kg of heroine discovered at airport, hidden inside Dominoes and Mahjong tiles. (source)

Lauderdale County, MS: Man accidentally shoots himself to death at a card game. Suspicions are that he mistakenly thought it was unloaded. (source)

Atlanta, GA: Two dozen people arrested for illegal card and dice gambling. (source)

Kidderminster, UK: Poker player Marcus Bebb-Jones arrested on an October US warrant for murdering his wife, spending her money, and then trying to kill himself. (source) In case you’re wondering, he stuck a gun into his mouth and shot himself, but missed.

Nicosia, Cyprus: 42 elderly women arrested for gambling over Poker and Gin Rummy. (source)

Hixton, WI: A Honaker man sure seems to get into a lot of fights, including one in prison over a card game. (source)

Pattay, Thailand: Yet another gambling arrest in Pattay, this time some bar girls playing Dominoes. (source)

London, UK: Body of missing 30 year-old poker player found in London canal. (source)

Kingston, Jamaica: Kingston police are trying to use Dominoes to lower crime levels! (source)

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